True Story: Last weekend, we are at a tournament and a parent of a player on the other team seeks out my AC (red flag #1 - his DD's team is still playing) to ask if we have a roster spot for another pitcher. My AC tells him yes we do, contact the head coach (me). The parent emails and then calls me, says his DD is a pitcher but is the 4th pitcher and not getting any circle time (red flag #2). Says she needs to play more to get better (red flag #3). We talk about her coming to try out for the team, I tell them we practice Thursday, asks if we can evaluate her sooner (but not Monday or Tuesday (red flag #4). She is also committed to go on a trip out of the country to play soccer (red flag #5), so she would not be available to play in two showcases, is that a problem?
I rearrange my practice schedule (mistake #1) to have the girl come to practice with my team. Nice kid, decent player, would be a good fit on the team. I offer the player a roster spot, speak to her parent about obtaining a release from her current team, and email them the forms. I get a return email from the dad saying thanks, we are also going to tryout for another team tomorrow night and let you know our decision. I write back, OK, it would have been nice to know that before I went to the trouble of rearranging my practice schedule. He writes back that his DD wants to play with her current team one last time to say goodbye to her friends (red flag #6 - translation: I am informing the current coach that we have an offer to jump ship, so you should give my DD more playing time on this team).
I rescinded the offer, letting the dad know that it is probably in his DD's best interest to find a better fit.
I really hate the games parents play, especially entitled pitcher's parents. It has nothing to do with softball and learning to be a better player and teammate.
I rearrange my practice schedule (mistake #1) to have the girl come to practice with my team. Nice kid, decent player, would be a good fit on the team. I offer the player a roster spot, speak to her parent about obtaining a release from her current team, and email them the forms. I get a return email from the dad saying thanks, we are also going to tryout for another team tomorrow night and let you know our decision. I write back, OK, it would have been nice to know that before I went to the trouble of rearranging my practice schedule. He writes back that his DD wants to play with her current team one last time to say goodbye to her friends (red flag #6 - translation: I am informing the current coach that we have an offer to jump ship, so you should give my DD more playing time on this team).
I rescinded the offer, letting the dad know that it is probably in his DD's best interest to find a better fit.
I really hate the games parents play, especially entitled pitcher's parents. It has nothing to do with softball and learning to be a better player and teammate.